SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 50, 23 February 1912, Page 12

SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

By W. LARACY

A meeting of shearers and woolshcd employees was held in Hastings on Saturday, February 14, for the purpose of forming a district committee m. that town. I attended tho meeting, and was gratified at the interest displayed in all matters concerning the Association. A strong committee was formed, with Mr. Katene as President and Mr. E. Anderson as secretary, both of whom can be relied upon to do their duty. Regret was expressed by those oresont when it was explained that the popular organiser, Mr. Jno. Cooper. was unable to attend the meeting. « > > The success of the Shearers' Association depends to a. great extent upon the interest taken by members during the off-season, when shearing is not in progress. To create this interest it is necessary to form district committees wherever it is possible for ten or twelve members to gel, together, and so keep in touch with thorn. f X « Wherever possible agents will be appointed to enrol members and to obtain subscribers, advertisers, etc., for our labor journal Tins has been overlooked in the past, and we find such places as Wellington, Palmcrston N., Gore, Wanganni, Hastings, Kaikoura, and many others I could mention minus an to guard our interests, and to supply our members with information and would-be members with tickets, etc. w * » I will thank members and others for all information which will assist our executive in securing suitable agents. In Australia hairdressers, booksellers, and others in a small way of business act in this capacity, and it is found to bo rmrhia'ly advantageous. CO* Mastorton has unearthed a yellow hope in tho shape of a Chow champion, who suggests opening wide tho gates upon our seaboard to &llov of cheap

labor being guaranteed to tho unfortunate employers, who are championed by the so-calie«t Reform Party and their official organs. * * ■ I find the Maoris in all parts good unionists, and the timo draws near when we- in Maoriland will not blush on being informed that we are not working en the linos of the A.W.U. * # « There is one thing to which I desire to caU_ the at ton tion of all unionists, and this is the fact that when an official of any labor organisation visits such places as Hastings, it must striko him that if lie is not out to organise all classes of labor and to push the labor paper, he is wasting time and also the hard-earned money subscribed by workers. I corno down and I meet an organiser going up to organise the workers in the meat works, and in a few weeks another will be goJng up for the F.L. Stop it at once, workers, and U"i into one organisation. We all desire il and why not haro it after Mi-ter;- Echo answers, Why?